Racers Rally For Victory Over EIU In OVC Opener

Friday, September 22

Racer Arena

7 p.m.

Murray State

9-4

Eastern Illinois

6-7

Eastern Illinois

Murray State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

9/22/2017 6:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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The Murray State Racers volleyball squad opened Ohio Valley Conference play as three-time defending champion and overcame a 1-0 deficit in claiming a 3-1 victory over the Eastern Illinois Panthers in Racer Arena in Murray, Kentucky.

In the process, the Racers (9-4, 1-0 OVC) extended their home win streak to 26 in a row before they welcome the SIUE Cougars into Racer Arena Saturday for a 1 p.m. match.

After losing a 20-13 lead in the first set and dropping the opening stanza to the Panthers 25-20, the Racers stormed back and took the next three sets 25-20, 25-18 and 25-22. In the final three set wins, the Racers only trailed once when it was 1-0 EIU in set two.

OVC kills leader Rachel Giustino led the Racers with 21 on the day, while the Racers got 11 from Dacia Brown and 10 from Olivia Chatman. Courtney Radle came off the bench and hit .538 when she converted 7-of-13 attempts. Alex Kaufmann led the Racers with a team-high 19 digs, while Becca Fernandez added 13 and Brown added 11.

Eastern Illinois (6-7, 0-1 OVC) heads to Clarksville to play Austin Peay. The Govs and Cougars played a five-set thriller with the Governors winning 19-17 in the final set and breaking SIUE's five-match win streak.